Show me the greatest esports matches of all time

November 22, 2014 2:32 PM

I would like to learn how to appreciate esports as a spectator. I have a hard time getting into random Twitch matches. Please link me to your favorite YouTube videos of classic or important or especially cool matches! I'm mostly interested in MOBAs (LoL, DOTA), not so much Starcraft/CoD/etc. Thanks!
posted by prize bull octorok to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (4 answers total)

Best answer: I'm a big League of Legends fan. Here's a couple of games I liked enough to note them at the time. TSM v C9 (Spring 2014 Week 3), C9 v TSM (Summer 2014 Finals).

And a couple of very detailed mechanics breakdowns: Faker being god, and good duo laning.

There are a huge number of well-cast pro LoL games online all organized by LoLEventVODs. The Worlds Season 4 championships are a good place to start. The recommended games help narrow it down some. You want the YouTube links, not Twitch.
posted by Nelson at 3:34 PM on November 22, 2014

Best answer: E-sports, like NASCAR, are much easier to get into if you pick a favorite team. In the Na'vi vs Orange 3 game series at TI3, I started out rooting for one team and ended with a second favorite =). These three games were pretty iconic, and most Dota2 fans would remember them.
posted by Gable Oak at 3:56 PM on November 22, 2014

Best answer: Beyond the Summit, one of the Dota2 casting studios, organized an old-school LAN party style event at their office/home/studio in California. The tourney was full of surprise strats and underdog wins, so if you enjoy this game, which ends in hugs, you'd probably enjoy the rest of the tournament. Oh! And the next Summit is coming up in just a few weeks.
posted by Gable Oak at 5:16 PM on November 22, 2014

Best answer: If you enjoyed the Na'vi vs Orange series, here's the follow-up where the winner moves on to the finals, also widely regarded to be one of the best series in Dota2 history. Bonus Admiral Bulldog
gameplay from ESL One Frankfurt.
posted by Gable Oak at 5:24 PM on November 22, 2014